Lloyd Austin says US support is “unwavering” and urges Israel to do more to protect civilians and increase humanitarian aid.
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Washington would continue to support Israel in its war against Hamas, but urged its ally to do more to protect civilians in Gaza amid calls for a ceasefire. fire multiplies.
Speaking alongside Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant in Tel Aviv on Monday, Austin said US support for Israel was “unwavering” as the death toll from Israel’s attack on Gaza passed 19 000, according to Palestinian health authorities.
Austin said he discussed with Gallant how to reduce harm to civilians trapped on the battlefield. They also spoke of a transition from major combat to less intense conflict.
“In any campaign, there will be phases,” Austin said. “We will also continue to emphasize the protection of civilians during the conflict and increase the flow of humanitarian aid to Gaza,” Austin said.
While the United States provides Israel with arms and diplomatic support, it has recently toughened its tone toward Netanyahu’s government. Last week, President Joe Biden said Israel risks losing international support because of what he called “indiscriminate” bombing.
Austin, however, was reassuring on Monday, declaring: “American support for Israel’s security is unwavering. Israel is not alone.
Gallant, meanwhile, said Israel would gradually move to the next phase of its operations in Gaza and that displaced people would likely first return to the north of the enclave.
Austin’s visit comes amid growing concern from foreign governments and international organizations over civilian deaths in Gaza and a worsening humanitarian crisis.
Earlier, the international human rights organization Human Rights Watch said that Israel was “deliberately blocking the delivery of water, food and fuel” to the population of Gaza and “using starvation of civilians as a method of war.
The Israeli assault on Gaza began after Hamas killed around 1,200 people in southern Israel and captured around 240 others, according to Israeli authorities.
Israel’s relentless bombings and ground invasion have killed at least 19,453 people, mostly women and children, according to Palestinian health authorities, and razed entire neighborhoods and displaced more than 80 percent of the population. 3 million inhabitants of Gaza.
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who has supported the Israeli campaign, said Monday that “too many civilians” had been killed in the fighting and expressed support for a “lasting ceasefire.”
While Austin has said more aid needs to be provided to the people of Gaza, the United States has found itself increasingly isolated over its position in the war between Israel and Hamas.
Last week, the United States cast one of the few dissenting votes against a United Nations General Assembly resolution calling for a ceasefire, passed with overwhelming support.
The UN Security Council is due to hold a vote on a ceasefire on Monday, after the United States also vetoed a previous resolution.
International leaders have also expressed concern about the possibility of broader regional escalation as the war drags on.
Austin said Monday that the United States is leading efforts to respond to a series of attacks by Yemen’s Houthi rebel group that have disrupted commercial shipping in the Red Sea. The Iran-backed group says the attacks are an attempt to pressure Israel to end its attacks on Gaza.
“In the Red Sea, we lead a multinational maritime task force to uphold the fundamental principle of freedom of navigation,” Austin said.
The Pentagon chief also warned of increased involvement by the powerful Iran-backed Hezbollah group, which has exchanged fire with Israel from southern Lebanon since the fighting began but has so far avoided more confrontation. wide.
US officials said William Burns, the director of the CIA, the US intelligence agency, was meeting with his Israeli counterpart and the prime minister of Qatar to discuss a possible deal to secure the release of other prisoners held by Hamas.
A previous deal, which Qatar and Egypt helped mediate, guaranteed a seven-day truce and the release of dozens of captives in exchange for the release of Palestinians held in Israeli prisons.